Friday, May 6, 2011

New Study Finds: Google has the best reputation of any company in the U.S

According to a new study from Harris Interactive, Google secured a reputation quotient (RQ) of 84.05, easily besting the second-place company, Johnson & Johnson. The conglomerate 3M and conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway came in third place and fourth place, respectively. Apple was able to nab the fifth spot in the study with an 82.05 RQ.

Harris Interactive's reputation quotient is determined by surveying more than 30,000 Americans on their opinions of the top 60 "most visible companies" in the U.S. Harris Interactive groups the responses into six categories that matter most to a firm's reputation, including emotional appeal, products and services, social responsibility, vision and leadership, workplace environment, and financial performance.

Aside from earning the best reputation, Google secured the top spot in financial performance and workplace environment. Intel earned top honors in products and services.

Outside of the top five, the technology industry performed exceptionally well in Harris Interactive's study. Intel, Amazon, Sony, and Microsoft all made it into the top 16. For the first time, Facebook made a showing in the list, securing the 31st spot. All told, the technology sector was viewed most favorably by Americans--75 percent of respondents gave the industry a "positive rating," Harris said today.

One other interesting tidbit from Harris Interactive's study: insurance and financial services giant AIG was the lowest-ranked corporation, followed closely by oil and giant company BP and investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs.